Frame for musical instruments



Dec. 2, 1930. v I w. L. LANGE 4 FRAME FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed May 8, 1928' g1 INVENTOR J7 WzZZzam .Z..Zz?zf8 4 8 M ZL ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. LANGE, NEW YORK, N. Y. I

FRAME FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed May 8, 1928. Serial No. 276,002.

This invention relates to sound instruments and particularly to banjos having resonators carried by spacing rings or fillers, though it is noted that the invention is not limited to banjos nor even to stringed instruments.

One object of the invention is to provide an instrument of this kind having improved tone and resonance and improved strength, rigidity and resilience of the instrument as a whole.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of parts in an instrument of this kind and to so combine the parts that they hold themselves together Without special fastening means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved spacing ring or filler having great strength and to provide a spacing ring which also functions as a part of the tension means.

Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the tone, strength, simplicity eificiency and appearance of such instruments and to provide an instrument of this kind which is durable and reliable in use, and economical to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described and claimed, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with which, briefly stated, includes a frame or shell having a foraminous spacing ring therearound for the reception of a resonator having a side wall receiving the edges of a spaclng ring.

A series of supports disposed around and over the frame position a frameband disposed around said supports and provided with projections gaging the spacing ring and leaving sound outlets.

A tone ring on said supports and the upper edge of said band receive a diaphragm tensioned by tension means tensioned 0n the spacing plate.

an improved banjo In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example, one of many possible embodiments of the invention.

Fig. l is a fragmental plan or face view showing a banjo embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation;

Fig. 3 is an axial sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the main features of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a radial section on a larger scale of a portion of the peripher i of the banjo;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental edge elevation showing the banjo with resonator removed, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmental longitudinal vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the neck oining the frame.

My invention is shown herein embodied in a banjo or other sound instrument having a wooden annular frame or shell, 10 (Fig. l) having its outer face cylindrical at the middle part 11 and beveled toward the edges to form upper and lower bevels l2 and 13.

A filler or spacing ring 15 around said frame is provided with large sound openings 16 and small strain hook openings 17(Fig. 5) and provided with a lower conical flange 18 (F ig. disposed around the lower bevel 13.

A resonator 20 has a bottom 21 spaced from the frame, and wall 22 rabbeted as at 23-to receive the plate 15 and to provide a ledge 24tengaging the plate. This'arrangement rovides a sound passage from the interior of the frame, under the bevel l3 and ring 15 through said openings 16 to the space above said ring 15.

A series of radially disposed spacing plates or supports 25 are each formed with a frame like body 26 resting against the upper bevel 12 and said cylindrical portion 11, and an inwardly pointed supporting portion 27 disposed over the top of the frame and provided with an arcuate notch 28 at the inner upper corner and with a downward and outward projection 29 engaging in the frame.

A tone ring 30 spaced from the top of the frame lies in the notches 28.

The outer edges of the supports 25 lie substantially in a cylindrical surface concentrio with the frame and receive a frame band spaced around said frame in engagement with said edges from above the top of the support to the bottom thereof. Said band is beveled at the outer edge 36 of its top face and provided in the lower edge with a series of large laterally opening sound outlets 37, and projections. or'legs 38 therebetween standing on the spacing ring .15 between the sound openings 16 as shown in Fig; 5. V

diaphragm 40 disposed over said tone ring 30 and band 35 is provided with a flesh ring 41 disposed against the outer face ofthe frame band 35 and receiving a strain rim 42 engaged by strain hooks'43 having threaded lower ends 44 passing through said hook openings 17 of the spacing plate 15 and receiving nuts 45 engaging the lower face of the spacing plate 15 to pull the conical flange 18 against the lower bevel 13, and to draw the tone band 30 against the spacing plates 25, the tone ring on the supports and the supports on the frame, whereby all the parts may be rigidly held together without the i use of fastenings.

The frame band 35 is cut away, as at 46 (Fig. 6) to permit the neck 48 and the dowel 49 to be properly secured to the frame 10. ,While herein I show strings 50 and a bridge 51, the invention is not thus limited.

The banjo is used in the ordinary way. The ring 30, diaphragm 40, frame band 35 and outlets 37 form sound passages, from the interior of the instrument, above said frame to the space above the openings 16 of the spacing plate, where the sound meets and combines with the sound coming around the bottom of the frame and'up through said openings 16 of thespacing ring 15, to increase the volume and resonance and improve the quality of the tone. The increased hei ht of the band 35. and the size of the out ets 37 cooperate to improve the resonance of these chambers.

The interaction of the stresses and strains of parts 10, 15, 25, 30, 35and 43 give the instrument a rigidity that improves its tone and lasting qualities. 7 I

The loody26 is intra-marginally cut away to provide a large aperture affording passage for the sound'from the interior of the, instrument to prevent diflraction of soundbythe spacinggplates 25 and to provide an unobstructed resonance chamberbetweenthe frame'and band.-

I claim. as my invention: I v

1. 111a musical instrument a frame, having thereon at'the lower end thereof abevel, a ring, having thereon a conical flange, disposed with said flange in engagement with said bevel, an annular-band, concentrically disposed with relation tosaid frame and spaced therefrom, vIIIOLLIllltECl"Q11;SEtlCl ring, means for spacing said band from said fram a dia hresn distee dt e sa spacing means and band, and a means for ring secured around the frame; a frameband around said frame provided with projections engaging the ring; a diaphragm disposed over said frame and band; and tension means for said diaphragm tensioned on said ring.

8. The elements of claim 1, said band havingtherein at the lower edge thereof laterally opening sound outlets and legs between said outlets, abutting at their lower ends against the upper side of said ring.

4. In-a musical instrument, a frame; a spacing ring secured around the frame and having openings therein; a resonator having a side wall receiving the spacing ring; -a frame band around and spaced from'the frame and provided with projections engaging the spacing ring leaving the openings unobstructed; a tone ring spaced above the frame; a diaphragm disposed over said tone ring and band; and tension means for said diaphragm tensioned on the spacing ring.

5. In a musical instrument, a frame; a spacing ring secured around the frame and having sound openings therein; a resonator having a side wall receiving the" spacing ring; a frame band around'and spaced from the frame and engaging the spacing ring and provided with sound outlets leaving the openings unobstructed; a tone ring spaced above the frame; a'diaphragm disposed over said tone ring and-band; said tone ring, diaphragm and band and outlets forming sound passages above said frame to the space above said openings of the spacing plate, where the sound meets and-combines with the sound coming around the bottom of the frame and up through said openings of the spacing ring.

6. In combination, a musical instrument frame; a spacing ring provided withlarge sound openings and secured around the frame; a resonator having a closed bottom spaced below the frame and a side wallhavingits upper portion receiving thespacing ring; a series ofsupports dispersed around said frame formed with a body resting against the upper part of the framepand a supporting portion over the frame; aframe band around'saidsupports and provided at f r the lower margin with large sound outlets forming projections therebetween standing on the spacing'ring between openings,

a tone ringon said supportingportions; a

diaphragm disposedover said tone ring and band and provided with a strain ri m ;'hooks engaged over the strain f rim and passing through the. spacing ring and nuts on said hooks engaging the-lower face of the spacing ring. Q

7. In a musical instrument, a frame band provided near the lower edge with a series of large sound outlets.

8. In a musical instrument, a support comprising a plate formed with a downwardly tapered and elongated frame like body and an inwardly pointed supporting portion; said body being intra-marginally cut away to provide a large opening wider than the margins of the frame and affording passage for the sound.

9. In a musical instrument, a spacing ring provided with large sound openings and at the inner lower periphery with a conical flange.

10. In combination, a frame having a downwardly and inwardly bevelled shoulder; a ring having thereon a conical flange engaged around said shoulder; a diaphragm disposed over said frame; and tension means for said diaphragm tensioned on the ring.

11. In a musical instrument, an annular frame or shell having its outer face beveled from near the middle part to the lower to form a substantially frustum conical lower bevel.

12. In a musical instrument, a frame; an annular plate around the frame; a diaphragm disposed over said frame having a strain,

rim; a frame band around the frame having spaced projections resting on said plate; strain means engaging the strain rim and having threaded lower ends passing through said plate; and nuts on said threaded lower ends engaging the lower face of the plate.

13. In a musical instrument, a frame; a spacing ring secured around the frame and having openings therein; a resonator having a side wall receiving the spacing ring; a diaphragm disposed over said frame; a frame band around the frame having spaced edge projections resting on said ring; and tension means for said diaphragm tensioned on the spacing ring.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 7th day of May, A. D. 1928.

WILLIAM L. LANGE. 

